"Although we would not normally release any of the materials connected with a case involving the investigation of faculty misconduct in research, in light of the intense scholarly interest in the matter I have decided, with the assent of Professor Bellesiles as well as of the members of the Investigative Committee, to make public the report of the Investigative Committee appointed by me to evaluate the allegations made against Professor Bellesiles (none of the supporting documents, however, are being made public). The text of the report is now available online at www.emory.edu/central/NEWS/"

To summarize, the report never really comes out and says Bellesiles intentionally manufactured data, there are so many problems with his methods (described as sloppy) and with his presentation of the data (he selectively left out the key years 1774-1776 and 1861 from his table showing alleged gun ownership rates) that he lacked the integrity necessary for a scholar. He also allegedly distorted and apparently purposefully ignored work by another scholar that contradicted his key findings. I actually understand his reasons for leaving those particular years out of his data set, but the rest of the report is pretty damning.

Bellesiles could have put together some really interesting studies if he had behaved objectively and professionally. His failure of ethics, and his desire to write a political hit piece, rather than a work of historical scholarship, likely has proven to be his downfall.

Well, they come pretty close. "Yet the best that can be said of his work with the probate and militia records is that he is guilty of unprofessional and misleading work.... On Question 4, dealing with the construction of the vital Table One, we find evidence of falsification. And on Question 5, which raises the standard of professional historical scholarship, we find that Professor Bellesiles falls short on all three counts.."

I think that is pretty damning from the 'collegial' atmosphere of liberal academia. They got dead him to rights. That is why he resigned. Good work by his fellow liberals.

Professor of History Michael Bellesiles announced his resignation from the University Friday, bringing an eight-month investigation into his research to an end.

Bellesiles was under fire by fellow academics for alleged fraud in research conducted for his 2000 book Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture.

Bellesiles wrote in a statement Friday he could not continue his teaching commitments given the controversy surrounding him and his book.

"I will continue to research and report on the probate materials while also working on my next book, but cannot continue to teach in what I feel is a hostile environment," Bellesiles wrote.

In a University statement, Interim Dean of the College Robert Paul said he accepted Bellesiles' resignation, effective Dec. 31. The announcement was released along with the long-awaited results of an Investigative Committee's inquiry into allegations of scholarly fraud against Bellesiles.

The Committee, headed by Stanley Katz, a professor of public and international affairs at Princeton University (N.J.), concluded that Bellesiles was guilty of both substandard research methodology and of willfully misrepresenting specific evidence in Arming America.

The scope of the Committee was limited to five questions that revolved around probate records in Vermont, Rhode Island and San Francisco, as well as one particular table of data. Finally, the Committee was asked if Bellesiles committed "other serious deviations "from accepted practices in carrying out or reporting results from research.'"

Bellesiles disputed the Committee's findings in his statement, claiming he has followed all pertinent scholarly guidelines and corrected all errors of fact known to him.

"I have never fabricated evidence of any kind nor knowingly evaded my responsibilities as a scholar," he wrote.

The Committee published its findings July 10, but the University withheld the report pending an appeal Bellesiles filed in September.

The University took the unusual step of releasing the results of the Committee's report, an action Paul said was necessitated by the "intense scholarly interest" in the matter. Not released, however, were the supporting documents in the case.

Paul said in the University's statement the Committee's report was "authoritative" and upheld stringent scholarly requirements in conducting such academic investigations. The case, Paul said, was concluded.

Arming America, which addresses the history of gun culture in America, posited that guns were not nearly as prevalent throughout American history than previously thought. Praised for its innovative use of probate materials as evidence, the book was awarded Columbia University's (N.Y.) Bancroft Prize.

Shortly after its release, several researchers, including law professor James Lindgren of Northwestern University (Ill.), alleged Bellesiles falsified evidence to support his thesis. The allegations eventually forced Emory's hand into conducting both an internal inquiry and the appointing of the external Investigative Committee.

Bellesiles, who was suspended with pay this semester, worked all last academic year on a second book on gun culture at the Newberry Library in Chicago. The Newberry funded that research using a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. After Emory began its investigation into Bellesiles' work, the NEH demanded that its name be removed from Bellesiles' research.

The Committee's report can be seen at: http://www.emory.edu/central/NEWS/index.shtml.

You betrayed your entire life, which, as a professor, should have been the pursuit of real knowledge. You used your position in academia to plant a lie and fabricate evidence in furtherance of your own political agenda. The discovery of your treachery reveals to all who would consider it, the fact that those who wish to nullify the Second Amerndment and disarm the populace, must resort to lies and fabrications, misinterpret court decisions, and insert commas where there were none in order to support their position. Arrevederci, Monsieur Bellesiles.

As a history professor at the U. of Dayton, I think this is remarkable. Generally, there are few things that a University won't tolerate from libs, except sexual harassment and accusations of racism. So this is surprising, and it means that the evidence wa so cotton-pickin' overwhelming that this guy could not have stayed.

Now the bad news? He'll be offered an endowed chair in some Ivy League school for his "boldness of approach."

The Newberry funded that research using a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. After Emory began its investigation into Bellesiles' work, the NEH demanded that its name be removed from Bellesiles' research.

Bellesiles, who was suspended with pay this semester, worked all last academic year on a second book on gun culture at the Newberry Library in Chicago. The Newberry funded that research using a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. After Emory began its investigation into Bellesiles' work, the NEH demanded that its name be removed from Bellesiles' research.

The question now is which liberal school or foundation will give a job to Bellesiles, to show that no effort for liberal propaganda will go unrewarded.

Be this as it may, this has been a crutial win for freedom and truth in America. The liberal elite liars in academia have had a shock. They do not absolutely control the gates of information to the public, as they once did through the OldDomiantLiberalMedia. The OldDominantLiberalMedia spent a great deal of its accumulated credibility propping up the corrupt Clintons. Now the chickens are coming home to roost. I see a dawing of prosperity and freedom in this country, despite, or perhaps in part because of, the war on terror.

Resignation was a victory for the truth. On the other hand the war is not over until the enemy has surrendered or been "defeated in detail".

Does anyone have a link to the, once-"prestigous" Bancroft prize committee? A good Freeping and they might do something.

If anyone does write, remember these are scholars, even if they are liberals. Spell-check your message, be sure to spell Bellesiles correctly, and don't flame. Just point out that their prize has lost a great deal of luster if they allow him to keep it for fraudulent work.

Who says there's no justice? Bellesiles has spent years 'researching' and writing his new book. Now, he may as well throw his notes & manuscript in the trash, because nobody will touch it with a ten-foot pole. Bellesiles will also find it impossible to get a new acedemic job, as academic fraud is the kiss of death to the career of any prof or researcher.

I guess ex-Professor Bellesiles can go study himself now, because he's HISTORY! ;^)

From NRO...http://www.nationalreview.com/thecorner/2002_04_21_corner-archive.asp#85036131NRO

.........................................................

MAYBE NOT (BELLESILES CHRONICLES) [Melissa Seckora] Eric Foner, a Columbia University history professor, and chairman of Columbia's 2002 Bancroft Prize Committee, says that the Bancroft has never been revoked, and that he's not sure that Roger Lane is right when he says Columbia is considering taking back Bellesiles's. "I've heard nothing about Columbia rescinding the prize. The University's trustees would have to do it, not the Bancroft Committee." Foner, who was critical of Doris Kearns Goodwin and Stephen Ambrose when their plagiarism charges were in the news, says he is agnostic on the Bellesiles case: "I haven't made up my mind. The problem is that I'm not in a position to know--I'm not an expert in the use of probate inventories."

Some people are going to twist this to make it look like the NRA got him fired for defying their cause.

This guy (http://www.claytoncramer.com) is the one most responsible for refuting Bellisiles, and his site documents hundreds of errors and misrepresentations in the book, and also B's evasive responses.

"Bellesiles, who was suspended with pay this semester, worked all last academic year on a second book on gun culture at the Newberry Library in Chicago."

So, this paragon of virtue has been receiving a PAYCHECK for doing nothing... and has now announced his resignation effective DECEMBER 31, 2002... meaning he will CONTINUE to do nothing for Emory for another TWO MONTHS!

In fact, his reply, which evidentally contained his resignation means that he will recieve this paycheck for THREE MONTHS of non-work. I would guess that amount of pay might total to MORE than the amount of the Bancroft Prize he fraudulently received for writing his lies.

Foner, who was critical of Doris Kearns Goodwin and Stephen Ambrose when their plagiarism charges were in the news, says he is agnostic on the Bellesiles case: "I haven't made up my mind. The problem is that I'm not in a position to know--I'm not an expert in the use of probate inventories."

This is either disingenuous or grossly uninformed on the part of Foner, as Bellesiles work has been publicly reviewed, months ago, by the woman who is probably the country's foremost expert on probate inventories. Her utter disgust was evident even in her scholarly review published in a distinguished journal.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure to announce that Michael Bellesiles has been awarded this weeks Beckel Prize for Excellence in Providing the FreeRepublic Community with the Total Schadenfreude Experience.

Bellesiles' lies about colonial gun ownership have merited a 'severence' of his relationship with Emory University.

The prize is named for Bob Beckel, Democratic Stalwart, Mondale '84 Campaign Chair, and would-be 2000 Electoral College tamperer, who tickled our fancy with his combination divorce/alcoholism/prostitution/blackmail jag, a history-making Schadenfreudische Superfecta!

Someone needs to email Amazon.com and see to it that the book is reclassified as "Fiction". Just another attempted take over by the Marxists. BTW his book has been quoted by a Justice in at least one court decision, US v. Emerson 5th cir. I believe.

WOO-HOO! I've been following this story since the beginning, and am very glad to see this outcome. I missed a chance to FReep this jerk when he was going to speak at the Atlanta Historical Society about two years ago. Glad to see that Emory has finally, grudgingly, done the right thing. A full-up "you're fired" would have been preferable, but his resignation amounts to the same thing to anyone paying attention.

Foner, who was critical of Doris Kearns Goodwin and Stephen Ambrose when their plagiarism charges were in the news, says he is agnostic on the Bellesiles case: "I haven't made up my mind. The problem is that I'm not in a position to know--I'm not an expert in the use of probate inventories."

Dunce! You don't have to be "an expert in the use of probate inventories" to understand that Bellesiles claimed to have used inventories from San Francisco that didn't exist.

By claiming few early americans were firearm owners, Bellesiles' "scholarly" mission, no doubt, was to survive peer review (whatever it is worth these days), publish, and thereby provide a theoretical basis for other antis to springboard from.

Trouble is, Bellesiles was sniffed out as the fraud he is-- his documentation lost in a flood? Pitiful.

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